Nitro

He's right, it happens all the time. People will dismiss what he says and just label him an attention-seeking whore (which, to be fair, he is), but look at a guy like Pau Gasol; I remember literally a month before he was traded to the Lakers I was arguing with someone on another website about how he'd be an awesome addition to the Nets (who were rumored to be discussing a deal with the Grizzlies at the time). The guy I was arguing with, who clearly had little to no knowledge of his game, wouldn't even want to trade RJ for him straight-up. Very few people had knowledge of his game and what he brought to the table because Dirk, Duncan,and Amare were getting more national TV exposure in 2 weeks than Gasol was getting all year. A few years later, it's a popular opinion to call Gasol the best PF in the league, even though he's basically the same player, just a little tougher. TV exposure does wonders.

Nice man, here's my favorite Papoose song/freestyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8fweNVHoU4

Haha, I noticed that too. Not only are they using the Lakers floor, but the lights are also dimmed, and I *think* Lawrence Tanter is the PA announcer as well.

I took a quick listen to all those songs (either full/snippet) and the only one I'm really feeling is Dark Fantasy. Still very excited to hear his new album, though, as I'm sure some of his stuff hasn't been fully edited and whatnot. Kanye usually doesn't dissapoint, so I'll definitely take a close listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Bf2oPANhY Absolutely sick, wish Papoose would get more exposure and create a real album as opposed to a million mixtapes. Still, one of the best lyracists out there. Also, as a bonus here's a freestyle over the Beemer, Benz or Bentley beat. Much better than Despicable IMO... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF7nZJFFj_0

Oh ok, so it's kind of like a rap opera. It's kind of cool I guess, but just wayyyyy out there.

So...is this all one song? Or a few songs connected and made into a video? If they are separate, I like the first song, and the one around 18min or so. Video is weird as [expletive], just like Kanye is. Wish he's get back to his CD/LR music.

Yeah good point I assume you mean area codes, though, not zip codes? Zip codes would be a much bigger pain than just saying each county's name.

If I didn't feel it was best for me, then yes. If I felt it was best for me, like LeBron felt it was for him, then I'd be to blame because *I* had the final say and *I* was the one on national television doing all that.

It doesn't matter. He's 25 years old and saw every time he took the floor at the Q what he meant to Cleveland fans. That was totally, 100% his fault. The rest I agree with. He has to do what's right for himself, even if people disagree.

Haha thanks dude. Anything you'd like to see added to it, like references to certain places or people? I was thinking of giving a shotout to all the counties, probably not in the actual verse but like after it with the beat still in the background.

I don't know, I'd place his value somewhere between Kobe Bryant (JR Smith) and Jason Kidd (Ty Lawson). Seriously though, I consider him kind of a Thabo Sefolosha type, but with better offense and slightly worse defense. I think he does have some potential, and he's a hard worker so he should be able to fulfill whatever potential he does have. Great, young role player who the Nuggets can keep as one of their core players once Melo/Billups/Martin get shown the door.

This truly is an amazing commercial, one of my favorites ever from Nike which is saying a LOT. Extremely well done and gets the point across crystal clear.

The year before the Rockets made it to the semi's Brooks, Landry and Scola were all rookies, Yao was out, they had no Artest, no Lowry, and played a more difficult first round opponent in the Jazz. That 2007-2008 team still won 22 straight games (with Yao out for 10 of them), and T-Mac averaged 27/7/6 against that Jazz team but had minimal help. In the decisive game 6 he had 40pts and they still got blown out....very reminsicent of the year before where in game 7 he had 29pts/13ast/5reb and they still lost. Let me put it to you this way...look at all the series' LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Pierce and AI have won. Tell me, with a straight face, that if they averaged 29/7/6 (T-Mac's career post season averages) in over half those series that they would have lost each one of them. The answer is no, they would have won those series'. The difference is they had the teammates and inferior opponents to match up with. T-Mac's teams were the underdog in every single playoff matchup except in 2007, where they got beat by a Jazz team that went to the WCF.

So, I edited my post with a rought first draft of the song, completed (although I will happily take any suggestions). I might have to make some of the lines shorter as I don't have great lung capacity and some of those lines need great lung capacity to be spit perfectly to the beat. But, I like it so far, after some minor tweaks I think it'll be ready.

Haha, maybe top 15 of the decade, but not even close to top 15 all-time. In his prime he was grossly inefficient (shooting below 40% and turning the ball over 4+ times for an entire season was not uncommon), and really did nothing besides score and steal the ball. His passing ability was a little above average, but most of his assists came solely off him handling the rock 20 seconds in each shot clock. His man-to-man defense wasn't anything special, and his size at the SG spot did cause problems. His style of play also handcuffed many of his teams as he just couldn't play off-ball whatsoever (T-Mac refused to as well by the tail-end of his career, but in his prime he was great working off-ball). As an individual player, a prime T-Mac blows AI out of the water.

T-Mac was always underrated IMO. His career was decimated by injury and his teams no-showing in the post-season, but people forget just how good he was when he was remotely healthy. He was NOT just a scorer, where he was every bit as versatile (albeit less efficient) as Kobe...he was the best passing wing I've seen, besides LeBron, since Pippen was with the Bulls. He was an exceptional ballhandler, good rebounder, could play great defense when he set his mind to it, and basically could do everything. From '02--'05 he was a better player than Durant is now, and some people are already calling that kid the best player in the league. People forget how good T-Mac once was. BTW, T-Mac's career post-season averages: 28.5PPG, 6.9RPG, 6.2APG, 43.0% shooting Anyway, I'm gonna go with Shawn Marion. He was always good at everything, but not great at a single thing (except maybe rebounding for a SF/undersized PF). He couldn't create his own shot, his defense was ridiculously overrated, and unless a great PG was setting him up he was a ghost offensively.

Haha yeah my bad if I went over the top, and thank GOD we ain't European. Drive-by insults FTL....

So...Reason, any idea that I can add to what I already wrote? Any references to certain places, people from NJ, etc..?

Hey, as I said, I love NY, but it's dumbasses like you who hate on NJ who can eat a dick...and you're already on that so I don't need to go any further.

Haha, figured you would underestimate our IQ, seeing as how you guys are statistically dumber than NJ. We also are home to both "New York" football teams, have had the most successful NHL team in the tri-state area the last decade, and also by far the most successful NBA team.

Yes, I know you guys feel that way, which is why you created Snookie in a labrotory in Albany and released her on our beaches...[expletive]s.

So, I was listening to a freestyle over the "New York [expletive]" beat by Busta Rhymes about 2 hours ago, and I got the idea to write something similar, but devoted to NJ. Below is the instrumental, and what I have written so far (it flows near perfectly to the beat when I spit it). It isn't done, and what I need from you guys is ideas for various lines...i.e certain references or whatever. If I get it to be around 2min (it's about 80-90 seconds long right now), I'll record it and put it on youtube. I think if I get my voice right and put enough emotion into it, it could actually catch on and get a lot of views. Anyway... Instrumental We’ll stick you for your cream, dump you in that NJ pit Like the Devils at the Pru, I’m on that NJ [expletive] Evaporate your flow with my NJ spit Then catch an STD, pounding that NJ clit Man, every 15 miles there’s an urban hood Hustlaz on the corner screamin “ son wuz good” In da Garden State, dead president’s the only race But if you front or disgrace these dude’s slice ya face Got mad love for New York, yet they always dissing So we go to Coney Island, grab our dicks, start pissing Peace to Redman, and all my dude’s who rep the Bricks And those freaks that get down like all you Rutger’s chicks Throw your lighter’s up, Pump It Up like Joe Budden Imma attack you other states like a air missile scud and Take you down and drown you in the Jersey shore Like my girl Lauryn Hill, it’s time to settle The Score I spit that sulfuric [expletive], homegrown in the swamps Where the Jets and Giants ball, let ya systems bump Download this joint, formatted in MP3 Then rip the T.P puffin THC My thoughts bounce like basketballs in the heart of Camden AsIll gets respect from those who can hardly stand him On the mic I’m like the shadow of a rappin phantom Take the letters in my name and proceed to chant ‘em A is for Asbury Park on the Atlanic Ocean S is for Sinatra and the Soprano fast approachin I is for Irvington and those living ill as [expletive] L is for the ladies lying ready to suck The last L is saved, burned after this song Peace to the 973, [expletive]’s blacked out, and I’m gone

Not enough brain for the NBA.

Good stuff, I really hope he stays healthy this season. I haven't seen much of him, in college or SL/preseason, but from highlights he kind of reminds me of Amare post-surgery in terms of athleticism/explosiveness. I'll be very curious to see his overall game once the season starts to make a true analysis.